Satoru Noda gets hockey. In fact, I don’t think there’s anyone in Japan who understands why hockey’s such a majestic sport quite like Noda. Dogsred is not just a love letter to the game that made Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky household names; it demonstrates why it’s a sport that every living being should be watching. And in its fifth volume, Dogsred showcases exactly why hockey is the sport of champions.

Most of the fifth volume focuses on an exhibition game between Oinokami and Sekka High. For most of the game, Rou and the rest of the team wonder why they are playing Sekka High, as they often cheat and pull unsportsmanlike conduct to gain any advantage. Heck, they’re so good at cheating that only Oinokami wind up being penalized for most of the game just for retaliating. That means a lot of players in the penalty box, sucking their thumbs thinking about what they’ve done.

But throughout the game, Coach Nihei keeps uttering a phrase: “Little doggy pees itself.” Most of the time, the players think he’s just off his rocker. But then, things click, and they realize the true meaning behind the bizarre message. It results in Oinokami’s adrenaline going into full gear, as they take on Sekka High and their rough way of playing. And all of it is captured in glorious fashion!

This is where Dogsred shines visually. Noda and his assistants find ways to showcase the real beauty and brutality of hockey. The way a puck is smacked across the ice, the grace of Rou as he evades an opponent’s attack, and even the glory of a bare-knuckle punch into the face of an opposing player’s face is shown with true gusto. Noda isn’t just telling us another sports story in his manga; he’s showing us why there’s no sport with as much excitement as hockey. (Trust me: watching a game in person is such a thrill!)

When the game ends, the mayhem continues. The crowd jumps onto the ice and starts to pummel Oinokami. That’s where we see how heroic Coach Nihei is, as he slaps the taste out of every person’s mouth (yes, even his own players!). “Guidance!” Coach Nihei shouts with every smack across the cheek, a wake-up call to everyone who dares to try to desecrate the noble sport of hockey. You can fight on the ice, but be gentlemen about it, dammit!

Volume Five ends with a confrontation between Koichi and Kengo, the latter of whom is caught with a suspicious substance given by Higuchi. What follows is a dead-serious conversation about the consequences of doping and how a user will find themselves abandoned by everyone they’ve ever loved. Thankfully, Kengo’s got a good head on his shoulders and makes a decision that any friend or family member would be proud of. Considering that we’ve seen too many sports series where doping is involved, it’s nice that Dogsred is casting that to the side to give readers a good, clean story about hockey.

And that, dear readers, is what makes the fifth volume of Dogsred a glorious read. From a no-holds-barred game filled with excitement to an honest chat about the underbelly of sports, Noda’s tale is shaping itself to be one of the great ones in the manga realm. If Slam Dunk can get Japan excited for basketball, then I sincerely hope that Dogsred will give the Land of the Rising Sun a good dose of Hockey Fever. Believe me: it’s a sickness that anyone would want to catch!

Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media. Click here to read past reviews of Dogsred!